Karen Bust joined the Communities for Children Team in January 2017 as our Administration and Multimedia Assistant, and then became our Quality and Business Coordinator in July 2019. Her working background has always been in administration, starting with 15 years as a legal secretary, before working with not-for-profit aid organisations. In her current role, Karen manages business processes, policies and documents; budget planning and accounting services; as well as providing program support for the CfC team. She is also secretariat for our CfC Committee meetings and involved in other community working groups. Karen’s interests outside of work usually revolve around family, friends and church. She really enjoys meaningful conversations with friends over a cup of coffee, and equally loves camping and 4WDing with her husband and their two adult sons.
Our Team
Program Manager - Debbie Miscamble
Over her career Debbie Miscamble has worked predominately within community for The Salvation Army in various roles including National Manager Community Development with Employment Plus, Community Action Leader and currently as the Communities Program Manager for the Communities for Children Facilitating Partner Program in Logan. Debbie is a proud Bidgera woman whose mob come from the Augathella and Charleville area. Whilst with Employment Plus, Debbie worked closely with Traditional Owners, Elders, local, state and federal government representatives and employers basing their operations in and around remote and rural Indigenous communities in Queensland and NSW to secure employment for local Indigenous people.
Debbie is well connected to community in Logan, and has a strong focus on partnership development through a relationship first approach to help create strong child friendly communities that understand the importance of children. Debbie leads a close knit highly motivated transdisciplinary team who share a passion for social justice issues and supporting families to improve their lives and those of their children to be the best that they can be. Her work supports the facilitation of soft entry into early intervention and prevention services that are place-based and more easily accessible, child centered and family focused, culturally sensitive and inclusive that create child friendly communities. Debbie is also a member of the Logan Together Action Group and the Leadership Table in Logan.
Collective Change Facilitator - Elise Parker
Elise Parker has worked in a range of intensive family support roles before taking up a position as one of our Community Development Workers. Elise has a degree in Psychology and an interest in childhood trauma and recovery, and building transdisciplinary practice in the community services sector. One of Elise’s main focuses is working across the Eagleby/Beenleigh area and using creative and fun ways to connect families and services across Logan. Elise works closely with The Salvation Army’s Policy, Research and Social Justice Department to explore creative ways to gather and promote research and practice in community services. In her spare time Elise enjoys spending time by the beach and indulging in a nice cup of coffee (or two). Elise and the rest of the Communities for Children team work closely together alongside many other stakeholders in the Logan community to co-design, co-create and co-implement a range of soft entry, early intervention and prevention projects to improve health and well-being outcomes for children aged 0-12years and their families.
Collective Change Facilitator - Holly Rynsent
Holly Rynsent has been working as a Community Development Worker in our Communities for Children team for the last nine years. Holly has a degree in Social Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling. Holly has a keen interest in the use of animals in therapeutic interventions with people via Animal Assisted Therapy and working with communities to mobilise their skills, strengths and talents for a common goal. One of Holly’s main focuses in working in the Springwood/Kingston and the Browns Plains areas is to build connection between early education and care centres, schools, support services and families. In her spare time Holly enjoys taking her dogs to the beach, spending time outdoors and watching nature documentaries. Holly and the rest of the Communities for Children team work closely together alongside many other stakeholders in the Logan community to co-design, co-create and co-implement a range of soft entry, early intervention and prevention projects to improve health and well-being outcomes for children aged 0-12years and their families.
Collective Change Facilitator - Penny Goodall
Penny Goodall joined our Communities for Children team as a Community Development Worker in July 2017 after 15 years in leadership roles in the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) and Children’s Health Queensland. Penny’s role is particularly focused on the early years for children, from birth to the first years at school, and is proud to be part of a number of initiatives under the Logan Together banner. Penny is absolutely passionate about working early with children and families so that our little people get off to the best possible start in life. Her desire is to see families supported, with children happy and strong, doing well at school and even eventually gaining employment. When Penny is not hard at work, she loves being with her family, especially having adventures with her three grandsons. She also loves good coffee, singing and making music.
Collective Change Facilitator - Jess Jackson
As of June 2023 Jess officially joined the Communities for Children Logan team and will lead the Child Health Pathways Project. Jess has been working with families and children for close to 20 years, spending eight of those in the Logan community. Jess has a Bachelor Degree in Social Science, a Diploma of Counselling and post graduate qualifications in Child Centred Play Therapy. Jess has worked in a variety of roles including disability support, early childhood education and family support. A focus for Jess is working alongside families and children so they feel supported, resourced and connected to their local communities. When Jess is not at work, she loves spending time with her partner, four children and two border collies on their property playing and gardening. When she gets a quiet moment to herself she loves to spend laying in the sun at the beach.
Child Health Pathways - Project Lead
Lisa joined the Communities for Children team in July 2023 in the role of Child Health Pathways Project Lead. Lisa’s professional experience includes 21 years’ working with children and families in Queensland and NSW. A qualified early years educator, Lisa has worked across all areas of early years education and care, including mainstream and specialized service types. She holds a degree in human services, specialising in child youth and family and is passionate about holistic approaches which resource and support children and families to build on their strengths and connect with their communities. The areas of Yarrabilba and Logan Village will be a key focus for Lisa as she works with schools and ECEC’s as well as individual children and families to facilitate relationships between health and education and support families to navigate systems. When she’s not at work Lisa enjoys spending time at home with family and her animals or travelling to visit friend’s interstate.
Quality and Business Co-ordinator - Karen Bust
